Liverpool’s latest loss has revived questions about the direction of the defending champions, though the issues may run deeper than what’s happening on the pitch.
BBC Sport’s Phil McNulty wrote that after the 3-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest, Arne Slot is “no longer attempting to prevent Premier League champions Liverpool from merely stumbling.” Instead, McNulty called the display “a plunge into the abyss,” describing the situation as “a full-scale crisis” for both the squad and their under-pressure manager.
One of the most striking elements of the match was the appearance of chairman Tom Werner at Anfield. Senior ownership figures seldom attend games, and McNulty noted that Werner “was at Anfield to witness a 3-0 defeat… as poor as anything produced at home in recent years,” raising questions about why he chose this particular moment to be present.
Werner’s attendance adds further weight to the scrutiny surrounding Liverpool’s poor run of form. His visits on matchdays have been infrequent — one notable trip two years ago and another last season by John Henry, usually linked to major decisions or turning points. That the chairman was there for one of the bleakest home results of Slot’s era may indicate internal conversations about performance expectations and the club’s overall direction.
